Applicator Device

ABSTRACT

An applicator device includes a primary handle and a detachable handle. The applicator device also includes a telescoping element situated between the primary and detachable handles, the telescoping element having a first end coupled to the primary handle and a second end coupled to the detachable handle. The detachable handle is removably coupled to the telescoping element second end. An applicator arm is pivotably coupled to the detachable handle. An applicator is coupled to the applicator arm. In addition, the telescopic element includes at least one telescoping section selectively movable between a position inside the primary handle and a position outside the primary handle. A pad is removably coupled to the applicator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to applicator devices and, moreparticularly, to an applicator device particularly adapted to simplifythe application of sunscreen, lotion, or ointment to one's own backwithout assistance.

Applying any type of liquid to one's own back is difficult without theassistance of another person. In other words, only portions of one's ownback are reachable with one's own hands. While a person may scratchtheir own back by rubbing up against a tree, post, or by using a ruleror other elongate apparatus, gently applying and rubbing in lotion,sunscreen, or the like requires a more sophisticated instrument.

Various devices have been proposed in the art for applying liquids to aperson's own back. Although assumably effective for their intendedpurposes, the existing devices are not adjustable to an individual'spersonal needs and preferences and do not include telescopic sectionsthat also provide control over angles of use, pivot action, and lengthadjustment.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have an applicator device havingtelescopic sections, a detachable handle, and structures for controllingthe angle of use and pivot action such that its end may conform to thecontour of a user's back.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an applicator device according to the present inventionincludes a primary handle and a detachable handle. The applicator devicealso includes a telescoping element situated between the primary anddetachable handles, the telescoping element having a first end coupledto the primary handle and a second end coupled to the detachable handle.The detachable handle is removably coupled to the telescoping elementsecond end. An applicator arm is pivotally coupled to the detachablehandle. An applicator is coupled to the applicator arm. In addition, thetelescopic element includes at least one telescoping section selectivelymovable between a position inside the primary handle and a positionoutside the primary handle. A pad is removably coupled to theapplicator.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide anapplicator device that enables a user to apply lotion, sunscreen, orointment to one's own back without another person's assistance.

Another object of this invention is to provide an applicator device, asaforesaid, that has a telescopic element so that the applicator devicemay be selectively length adjustable.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an applicatordevice, as aforesaid, having an applicator arm that is pivotally coupledto a detachable handle such that an applicator may conform to thecontour of a user's back.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an applicator device,as aforesaid, in which an applicator pad is conveniently replaceable orinterchangeable.

A further object of this invention is to provide an applicator device,as aforesaid, that is durable and economically feasible to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration andexample, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a perspective view of an applicator device according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention in an extendedconfiguration;

FIG. 1 b is a perspective view of the applicator device as in FIG. 1 ain a retracted configuration;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the applicator device as in FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the applicator device as in FIG. 1 a;

FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, and 3 c are isolated views on an enlarged scale takenfrom a portion of FIG. 3, illustrating the applicator arm in respectivepivotal configurations;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a secondary handle detached from thetelescoping element and primary handle;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the applicator handle as in FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 5 a is a sectional view taken along line 5 a-5 a of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 b is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portionof FIG. 5 a; and

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the applicator device as in FIG. 1 a.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An applicator device 100 according to the present invention will now bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 a through 6 of theaccompanying drawings. More particularly, according to the currentinvention, an applicator device 100 includes a primary handle 110, asecondary handle 120, a telescoping element 130, an applicator arm 140,and an applicator 150.

As shown in FIG. 1 a, the telescoping element 130 is between the primaryand secondary handles 110, 120 and has a first end 132 a coupled to theprimary handle 110 and a second end 132 b coupled to the secondaryhandle 120. The secondary handle 120 may be removably coupled to thetelescoping element second end 132 b, such as by a push-latch 122, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 5 a, for example, and the secondary handle 120 maybe referred to herein as a detachable handle.

The telescoping element 130 may be selectively positioned at a closed(also referred to herein as “retracted”) configuration 130 a (FIG. 1 b)and at least one open (also referred to herein as “extended”)configuration 130 b (FIG. 1 a), and means may be included forselectively maintaining the telescoping element 130 at the closedconfiguration 130 a (FIG. 1 b) and the at least one open configuration130 b (FIG. 1 a). More particularly, the telescoping element 130includes at least one telescoping section 134 that is selectivelymovable between a position inside either the primary handle 110 (FIG. 1b) or the secondary handle 120 and a position outside the primary handle110 and the secondary handle 120 (FIG. 1 a). As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.6, each telescoping section 134 may include a push-latch 135 thatinteract with a hole 136 in an adjacent element to maintain the sections134 at the desired configuration. The telescoping element 130 may have acurved configuration, and the curved configuration may be morepronounced when the telescoping element 130 is at the extendedconfiguration 130 b, as shown in FIG. 1 a when compared to FIG. 2 b, forexample.

The applicator arm 140 is coupled to the secondary handle 120, and asbest shown in FIGS. 2-3 c and FIG. 5 b, the applicator arm 140 may bepivotably coupled to the secondary handle 120. While the applicator arm140 is shown in the drawings as being rotatably sandwiched between forks124 of the secondary handle 120, other pivotable attachments mayadditionally or alternately be used. A lock 145 (FIGS. 3 a-3 c) may beincluded to temporarily fix the location of the applicator arm 140relative to the secondary handle 120, such as through friction. Theapplicator 150 is coupled to the applicator arm 140, and as best shownin FIG. 5 b, the applicator 150 may be coupled to the applicator arm 140by a ball and socket joint 152.

A pad 160 (FIG. 2) may be coupled to the applicator 150 in either apermanent or removable manner. If removably coupled, hook and loopfasteners 162 (FIG. 5 b) or any other appropriate non-permanent fastenermay be used to couple the pad 160 to the applicator 150. While the pad160 is shown in the accompanying drawings to be generally circular, thepad 160 may alternately be oval, generally rectangular, or any otherappropriate shape. The pad 160 may be constructed of any appropriatematerial, including for example, cotton, cloth, sponge, or woven paper.

In use, a substance (e.g., lotion, sunscreen, ointment, etc.) may beplaced on the pad 160 by the user, or the pad 160 may be manufactured toinclude the substance. The telescoping element 130 may be positioned atthe retracted or extended configuration 130 a, 130 b as discussed above,depending on how the user intends to utilize the applicator device 100.For example, to utilize the applicator to apply the substance to theuser's lower back, the user may position the telescoping element 130 atthe extended configuration 130 b (FIG. 1 a). The user may then grasp theprimary handle 110 and apply the substance on the pad 160 to the desiredbody location. The telescopic nature of the telescoping element 130, thecurved configuration of the telescoping element 130, the pivotal natureof the applicator arm 140, and the ball and socket joint 152 thatcouples the applicator 150 to the applicator arm 140 may collectivelyallow the user to reach a wide range of body locations to apply thesubstance. The telescoping element 130 may be positioned at theretracted configuration 130 a (FIG. 1 b) or the secondary handle 120 maybe removed from the telescoping element 130 (as discussed above andshown in FIG. 4) if the length and curve provided by the telescopingelement 130 is not needed to reach the desired body location. Once thesubstance is applied, the pad 160 may be separated from the applicator150 (as noted above) and discarded if the pad 160 is removably coupledto the applicator 150. The telescoping element 130 may optionally bepositioned at the retracted configuration 130 a for storage.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have beenillustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar assuch limitations are included in the following claims and allowablefunctional equivalents thereof.

1. An applicator device, comprising: a primary handle; a detachablehandle; a telescoping element between said primary handle and saiddetachable handle, said telescoping element having a first end coupledto said primary handle and a second end coupled to said detachablehandle, said detachable handle being removably coupled to saidtelescoping element second end; an applicator arm pivotably coupled tosaid detachable handle; and an applicator coupled to said applicatorarm.
 2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein said telescoping elementincludes at least one telescoping section selectively movable between aposition inside said primary handle and a position outside said primaryhandle.
 3. The applicator of claim 1, further comprising means forselectively maintaining said telescoping element at a closedconfiguration and at least one open configuration.
 4. The applicator ofclaim 3, further comprising a pad coupled to said applicator, andwherein: said telescoping element includes at least one telescopingsection selectively movable between a position inside said primaryhandle when said telescoping element is at said closed configuration anda position outside said primary handle when said telescoping element isat said at least one open configuration; said applicator is coupled tosaid applicator arm by a ball and socket joint; and said telescopingelement has a curved configuration.
 5. The applicator device of claim 1,wherein said applicator is coupled to said applicator arm by a ball andsocket joint.
 6. The applicator device of claim 1, wherein saidtelescoping element has a curved configuration.
 7. The applicator deviceof claim 1, further comprising a pad coupled to said applicator.
 8. Theapplicator device of claim 7, wherein: said applicator is coupled tosaid applicator arm by a ball and socket joint; and said telescopingelement has a curved configuration.
 9. The applicator device of claim 8,wherein said pad is removably coupled to said applicator.
 10. Anapplicator device, comprising: a primary handle; a detachable handle; atelescoping element between said primary handle and said detachablehandle, said telescoping element having a first end coupled to saidprimary handle and a second end coupled to said detachable handle, saiddetachable handle being removably coupled to said telescoping elementsecond end; an applicator arm coupled to said detachable handle; anapplicator coupled to said applicator arm; a pad coupled to saidapplicator; and wherein said telescoping element has a curvedconfiguration and includes at least one telescoping section selectivelymovable between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration.11. The applicator device of claim 10, wherein said applicator iscoupled to said applicator arm by a ball and socket joint.
 12. Theapplicator device of claim 11, wherein: said pad is removably coupled tosaid applicator; and said applicator arm is pivotably coupled to saiddetachable handle.
 13. The applicator device of claim 10, wherein saidpad is removably coupled to said applicator.
 14. The applicator deviceof claim 10, wherein said applicator arm is pivotably coupled to saiddetachable handle.
 15. An applicator device, comprising: a primaryhandle; a secondary handle; a telescoping element between said primaryhandle and said secondary handle, said telescoping element having afirst end coupled to said primary handle and a second end coupled tosaid secondary handle; an applicator arm pivotably coupled to saidsecondary handle; and an applicator coupled to said applicator arm. 16.The applicator device of claim 15, further comprising means forselectively maintaining said telescoping element at a closedconfiguration and at least one open configuration.
 17. The applicator ofclaim 16, further comprising a pad coupled to said applicator, andwherein: said telescoping element includes at least one telescopingsection selectively movable between a position inside at least one ofsaid primary handle and said secondary handle when said telescopingelement is at said closed configuration and a position outside saidprimary handle and said secondary handle when said telescoping elementis at said at least one open configuration; said applicator is coupledto said applicator arm by a ball and socket joint; and said telescopingelement has a curved configuration.
 18. The applicator of claim 17,wherein said secondary handle is removably coupled to said telescopingelement second end.
 19. The applicator of claim 15, wherein saidtelescoping element has a curved configuration.
 20. The applicator ofclaim 15, further comprising a pad removably coupled to said applicator.